A camera system employs an electronic imager such as a Charged Couple Device (CCD) or a Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor (CMOS) array that captures a first portion of light and reflects a second portion of light reflected from a target subject. The light reflected by the electronic imager may be reflected towards film media or a color filter, for example. The electronic imager may include an integrated circuit, or a dielectric reflecting coating that acts to partially reflect incoming light reflected from the target subject. A display, such as an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display), may be utilized to determine which images are desirable or to identify which films to develop. Film writing circuitry that allows various types of information to be written may be utilized. The camera system further features an electronic imager shutter, and a film shutter for shuttering purposes. The film shutter can provide exposure control. The camera system additionally features a processing or control system that selectively controls using the electronic imager or the film media or both simultaneously. The camera system may also have a beamsplitter such as a prism, mirror or optical coating that transmits and reflects light from a subject towards an electronic imager and/or film media, respectively. In addition, the camera system can download digital images to a computer via interface circuitry.
Legal claims defining the scope of protection, as filed with the USPTO.
1. A camera system that utilizes film media, the camera system receiving light reflected from a subject along an optical pathway, the camera system comprising: an optical system disposed along the optical pathway; an electronic imager disposed along the optical pathway, the electronic imager utilizing a first portion of the light reflected from the subject to capture an electronic image; and the electronic imager directing a second portion of the light reflected from the target subject towards the film media.
2. The camera system of claim 1 further comprising an electronic imager shutter.
3. The camera system of claim 1 further comprising a film shutter.
4. The camera system of claim 2 wherein the electronic imager shutter is used to provide exposure control.
5. The camera system of claim 3 wherein the film shutter is used to provide exposure control.
6. The camera system of claim 1 further comprising a control system that selectively permits the capture of images using the electronic imager or the film media or both simultaneously.
7. The camera system of claim 1 further comprising a screen that is utilized to display electronic images captured by the electronic imager.
8. A camera system that utilizes film media and directs light reflected from a target subject along an optical pathway, the camera system comprising: processing circuitry; and an electronic imaging component that uses a first portion of the light reflected from the target subject for electronic image capture, the electronic imaging component reflecting a second portion of the light reflected from the target subject for use by the film media.
9. The camera system of claim 8 further comprising an electronic imager shutter.
10. The camera system of claim 8 further comprising a film shutter.
11. The camera system of claim 8 wherein the electronic imager shutter is used to provide exposure control.
12. The camera system of claim 8 further comprising film writing circuitry that allows various information to be written on the film media.
13. The camera system of claim 8 wherein the electronic imager further comprises an integrated circuit that acts to partially reflect incoming light reflected from the target subject.
14. The camera system of claim 8 wherein the electronic imager further comprises a dielectric reflecting coating that acts to partially reflect incoming light reflected from the target subject.
15. The camera system of claim 8 wherein the electronic imager further comprises an integrated circuit imager that has a metallization layer and a substrate with a relatively narrow thickness, the integrated circuit imager admitting the light reflected from the target subject from a substrate side of the integrated circuit.
16. A method used by a camera system that incorporates an electronic imager to capture light reflected from a target subject, the method comprising: utilizing a first portion of the light reflected from the target subject to form an electronic image; and reflecting a second portion of the light reflected from the target subject for further imaging purposes.
17. The method of claim 16 further comprising shuttering the electronic imager.
18. The method of claim 16 further comprising shuttering film media.
19. The method of claim 16 further comprising selectively capturing film images, electronic images or both.
20. The method of claim 16 further comprising displaying electronic images captured by the electronic imager.
Cooperative Patent Classification codes for this invention. Click any code to explore related patents in that topic.
September 30, 1999
October 23, 2001
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